Initial mounting



Patented July 29, 1952 UNIT-ED PATENT OFFICE-1 Henry J. Le Blane, Attle'bor-o Falls, Mass, assignor to Swank, Inn, a corporation of Delaware I application November 17, 1950, Serial No. 196,302

. 1 V This invention relates to a mounting of an initial or some other character upon a base for personalized identification or ornamentation.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a base which may be so formed that any number of initials or characters may be mounted therein by the retailer at the time the sale of the article carrying the identification is made.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which will be self-contained and so arranged that when the initial or character is slid into position, it will be automatically locked in the position which it is desired the same to assume, making adjustment unnecessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which will enable simple manufacture, and thus a more inexpensive construction to produce.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the initial or character will be raised above the base in relief effect.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of one of the initials or characters which is constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, showing the base with a groove therein, for receiving the character in Figure 1, and illustrating in another position the character, as mounted in a slot in the base.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on substantially line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on substantially line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In proceeding with this invention, I utilize a solid base and cause a cutter to enter one edge of the block and move inwardly at a substantially uniform depth to a point short of the opposite edge of the block to provide a first or main slot, and also mill two intersecting slots at right angles to the main slot so produced. A character which is to be mounted on the base of the block is provided with a member which is of a shape to lit the main slot formed in the block from one edge thereof. This member is of a length less than the width of the block and of a length so that it will be accommodated in the first or main slot mentioned. Locating means, such as an abutment for the inner end of the member, is provided, and also a spring to look into one of the slots for holding the member in place.

With reference to the drawings, Ill designates a block which is shown of rectangular shape with V 4 Claims. (01. 40--140) a top wall II and opposite edges IZ-and -I3. A

conical or frustro-conical cutter is then inserted into the edge I2, so as to cut through the face I l. and is caused to enter point I4 which is short of the edge I3. The cutter is shaped so as to provicle an undercut first or main slot I5 which is here shown as dovetailed. This slot has a bottom wall It and overhanging side walls I! and I8. Any desired number of slots I5 may be formed in the block identical with the slot just described. These slots will run in parallel relations, as shown in Figure 2, across the slots I5.

I provide a second slot I9'which runs at right angles to these slots I5, and is of a depth to extend into the bottomwall- IE or these slots thus intersecting with the slots I5. A piece of spring wire, 2i), is located in this slot I9, with arched portions 2| at the location of each of the main slots I5, to extend through the bottom wall I6 and into the slot I5. In order to hold this spring wire in place, there is a closure 22 provided with raised end portions 23 to abut the bottom of the slots I9, while there is a cut-away portion to accommodate the wire 20 therein.

A third slot 24 is milled across the slots I5 adjacent their inner ends I4, at a point at the ends of the parallel edges of walls I1 and ill of the slots I5. Slot 24 is provided with a strip 25 which extends into the slot I5 to provide an abutment to be engaged by anything slid into the slot.

A character which is to be mounted on the base is designated 26, and shown in perspective in Figure 1, which in the case illustrated is the letter I, and which is of a dimension substantially the dimension between the opposite edges I2 and I3 of the block. Member 21, of a shape corresponding to the undercut shape of the groove I5. is secured beneath the character 26, and is of a length substantially the length between the abutment strip 25 and the edge I2 of the block.

Member 21 is dovetailed, as shown in the drawing, to correspond to the dovetail slot l5, and thus the opposite edges I2 and I3 of the block.

In order to lock this character and member in this position, a groove 34 is provided across the member 21, at a location to receive the arched spring 2 I, which snaps into this groove and locks base having an undercut slot in one face thereof opening into one edge of the base to provide an entrance end and terminating short of the opposite edge of the base, a character of a dimension greater than the length of said slot having secured thereto a member of a cross sectional shape to fit into said slot to hold the character above the surface of the base, said member being slid able from the slot through the end thereof opening into said edge.

2. A mounting as in claim 1 wherein an abutment is provided to engage the inner end of said member, and limit its insertion into said first slot.

3. A mounting for a character comprising a base having an undercut slot in one face thereof opening into one edge of the base to provide an entrance end and terminating short of the opposite edge of the base and a second slot extending at an angle to the said first slot and intersecting the same at the bottom of the first slot and adjacent the entrance of the first slot, a spring located in said second slot and protruding into the first slot through the bottom wall thereof, a character of a dimension greater than the length of said slot having secured thereto a member of a cross sectional shape to fit into said slot to hold the character above the surface of the base, said member being slidable from the slot through the end thereof opening into said edge and provided with a groove receiving said spring to hold it in said slot.

4. A mounting for a character comprising a base having an undercut slot in one face thereof opening into one edge of the base to provide an entrance end and terminatingshort of-the opposite edge of the base and a second slot extending at an angle to the said first slot and intersecting the same at the bottom of the first slot and adjacent the entrance of the first slot, a spring located in said second slot and protruding into the first slot through the bottom Wall thereof, a character of a dimension greater than the length of said slot having secured thereto a member of a cross sectional shape to fit into said slot to hold the character above the surface of the base, said member being slidable from the slot through the end thereof opening into said edge and provided with a groove receiving said spring to hold it in said slot, said member tapered depthwise of said first slot with its leading edge of a depth to slide over said spring and depress the spring as it is moved into the slot.

HENRY J. LE BLANC.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I I Date 232,972 Isaac Oct. 5, 1880 1, 77 5,725 Keith Sept. 16, 1930 

